"It's certainly in the spirit of what we have in mind, and I applaud the initiatives," said Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III. "I think [they] would be effective. Anything that strengthens the partnership between the police and other sectors of campus is a plus."

House masters also praised the plan.

"The masters haven't discussed them as a group, but the masters on the committee were unanimously pleased by the proposals," Quincy House Master Michael Shinagel said. Shinagel said he and the other masters were happy about the "spirit of cooperation" Johnson showed in proposing the initiatives.

In spite of the committee's strong approval for all the measures, Johnson said he does not expect to implement most of them for at least another year and a half. Many of the proposals, such as the one for foot patrols, will require additional officers if the police do not want to compromise their regular activities.

"You'd have to take [personnel] from somewhere else, [but then] you can disrupt safety and security in another place," Vallier said.

Additional funding for more officers will have to be approved by the administration before these more expensive initiatives can be implemented, Johnson said. But $50,000 to $60,000 per officer, the possibility of passing them is slim.

"I don't see that as happening [soon]," Johnson said. "Money is tight."

Johnson said he hopes that community policing by Harvard will grow to the point where the department can reserve some police officers as ombudsmen for the Cambridge community, acting to help residents resolve persistent problems or annoyances--such as safety hazards--in their areas.

"We have very little opportunity to follow up on these things," Johnson said. "[These officers] would facilitate the process."

Johnson said Harvard officers are already being encouraged to make contact with students in the houses. But such efforts are "piecemeal" and depend on whether they have any free officers, which happens rarely.

"To the extent to which have it [now], it isn't quite to the level it should be," Vallier said. "We can improve guard services, community service interaction."

Johnson said community policing demands "consistent responsibility," which means a community liaison can't be at the beck and call of the dispatcher at all hours.

"It's a full-time assignment," Johnson said.

According to Johnson, the concept of community policing has been around for more than 10 years, ever since Houston Police Commissioner Lee Brown implemented initiatives in his city to bring his police force closer to the community. Since then, the idea has spread to other cities.

Johnson said he sees the new initiatives as another step in the Harvard police's continual efforts to improve its work.

"There are changes every year, internal and external," Johnson said. "We are constantly seeking ways to improve our own services.